May is Pet Arthritis Awareness Month

In this week's Wellness series, I share Top Tips for setting up your home to keep our senior furbabies safe, comfortable and active.

1. Place non-slip mats on laminated and tiled floors to prevent your pets from slipping (yoga mats are great).
2. Provide ramps for your pet to access the couch, bed and getting in and out the car (especially high SUVs and utes).
3. Clickety-clack... How long are your pet's nails? Long nails are painful and force your dog to alter their gait, exacerbating their arthritis in their toes, wrists (carpus), elbows and shoulders. If you can hear your dog's nails clicking on the floor when they walk, trim them. We can help trim nails and keeping your furbaby comfortable.
4. How hairy are your dog's paws? Fur between the pads and over the feet cause your dog to slip and have an unsteady gait (imagine walking in slippery socks on laminated floors all day). We can help trim their paws which will help manage their arthritis.
5. Keep your pets snug and warm – sit on the floor with them for 10-15min, do you feel an icy draft? I often feel an icy draft when I'm on the floor when treating dogs – pop a towel or draft stopper along your doors to minimise icy drafts and elevate their beds a few centimetres off the floor, or provide a cot mattress for comfort and support. Snug coats for cool evenings and early morning walks are recommended too.
6. Raise food and water bowls, especially for taller dogs in order to alleviate pressure in arthritic shoulders, elbows, wrists and neck.

I invite you to bring your senior dogs to see me at PITC Wairau Park and Silverdale on Wellness Wednesdays for the remedial canine massage and soothing Vetcare Red Light Therapy treatment.